At the start of August, Craig and Ryan took extended weekend getaways to Wisconsin and Michigan, returning with a sweet little haul highlighting some favorite spots along the way. Whose weekend three-pack turns out the best? We gladly sip through these six to report back with our arbitrary opinions. Plus, we both share some recent notable DJ experiences, Ryan has a new superpower he doesn’t want, Craig relives some Wisconsin IPA Fest highlights, and we have a brief interview with Nate Fakler of Faklandia Brewing recorded at this year’s Great Taste of the Midwest to round things out. 

Nate Fakler interview (00:51:20 - 00:56:42)

Beers Reviewed

Low Daily (Burlington, WI) - Top Bins (English Dark Mild)

Waypost Brewing Co. (Fennville, MI) - Kölsch

Component Brewing (Milwaukee, WI) - Simcoe Overflow (IPA)

North Pier Brewing Company (Benton Harbor, MI) - Old Shuck (London-style Porter)

Faklandia Brewpub (St. Francis, WI) - Blue Magic (Blueberry IPA)

One Well Brewing (Kalamazoo, MI) - Tequila Barrel-Aged Only Gose to Show (Barrel-aged Lime Gose)

Though this was recorded in the early summer months, this episode explores a broad style designation that’s seeing a bit of a resurgence - and hopefully more so with the coming colder temperatures. We open five red ales to see what makes a good one and learn quite a bit about the broad variance that exists beyond simply “red” and “hoppy.” Also, Craig recommends the horrors of MLB Rain Delay Twitter, we debunk a pretty dumb beer belief around ABV, and we make some picks for the worst candies ever made. 

And with the new directors’ cut, you get to hear us drink a 6th beer that somewhat inspired this show - and why it might taste like Summer Craig dying.

Beers Reviewed

Brothership Brewing - Red Planet (Hoppy Red Ale)

Pipeworks Brewing - Blood of the Unicorn (Hoppy Red Ale)

Soundgrowler Brewing Co. - The Willing Blood (Red IPA)

Maine Beer Co. - Zoe (Hoppy Amber Ale)

Black Horizon Brewing - Walk the Plank (Imperial Red Ale)

Directors’ Cut Beer:

Maplewood Brewing - Radio Silence (Red IPA)

The story of Flipside Brewing begins and ends with Erik Pizer, the owner and head brewer whose career has led him back to Tinley Park with his now 2-year old brewpub. This conversation is a long-time coming as we’ve been fortunate to follow Erik’s brewing career over the last decade - and we must concur that Flipside is an excellent showcase for his talents. After a few handfuls of garlic cheese curds, we sip through a nice variety of his high quality beers while talking about everything that brought him back to where his professional brewing career started. Also, we dig into his no-nonsense approach to recipes and brewing techniques across many styles; we have a little beer déjà vu; and we gotta talk about those bathrooms. Plus, we nerd out about Easter eggs on labels, English-style beers, and potential musician collaborations. KornWine.

Beers Sampled

Sun Side (Kolsch)

Last Stop (IPA)

Monochrome Dream (Hazy IPA)

Kobabazoobie (Hazy IPA)

Double Stop (Double IPA)

Barrel-Aged Decision Fatigue 2024 (Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout)

These summer Deep Wood releases keep getting bigger and bolder, so we sample the three barrel-aged beers Revolution released in July (alongside a little leftover Springtime coffee pick-me-up) to once again fawn over the results. Craig puts on his silly sun hat while we sip through all 55.2 ounces, and Ryan lets his Revolution truth spill out with all the subtlety of Bobcat Goldthwait in a Godzilla costume. Also, Craig gets recognized and gifted ramen, Ryan’s dreaming up the lozenge for weaning yourself off of barrel-aged beers, and we certainly aren’t looking for 50 ways to leave your barleywine. 

2024 Deep Wood Beers Reviewed

Supermassive Café Deth (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial coffee stout)

Coconut Deth (Bourbon barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout w/ toasted coconut)

V.S.O.J. (Blended bourbon barrel-aged English barleywine)

Cherry V.S.O.J. (Blended bourbon barrel-aged English barleywine w/ cherry)

For all the high concept shows we’ve done over the past decade, we were shocked to learn that we’ve never just focused on the American Pale Ale - those clear, approachably hoppy styles of old. We have five Chicagoland examples here (well, two Lake Zurich and three Chicago, oddly) that are all impressive in their own way as we try to figure out what we look for in this style. Also, Craig is left with an infomercial cliffhanger, Ryan’s got your next beer trip all figured out, and we accidentally flashback to the origin of Mosaic blindness.

American Pale Ales Reviewed

Begyle Brewing - Sunny Afternoon

Phase Three Brewing - Lake Trip

Pipeworks Brewing - Lizard King

Roaring Table Brewing - RTB Pale

Alarmist Brewing - Pantsless

We’ve covered a lot of summer-friendly light drinking beers on the podcast lately, but this one goes right for the freezer aisle. Taking inspiration from a few popular icy treats, this lineup is summer fun in a glass, for the most part, even if said “fun” isn’t, like, “beer.” We have two beers inspired by lemon italian ice and two beers (plus a seltzer) mimicking that blue raspberry-white lime-red cherry trio of classic American popsicle. Also, we consider what eating contests we might have an okay shot at to win, there’s a new level of cuvée happening, and Ryan’s weirdly hung-up on Craig’s stubbornness around Mission: Impossible. Just be sure to toss the wooden stick when you’re done.

Drinks Reviewed

Hopewell Brewing Co. - Italian Ice (Citrus Lager w/ Meyer lemon)

Old Irving Brewing Co. - Miko’s Italian Ice (Sour ale w/ Meyer lemon)

Quirk (Boulevard Brewing Co.) - Raspberry Rocket Pop (Hard Seltzer)

Brothership Brewing - Plasma Wave: Bombs Away (Fruited sour w/ raspberry, lime, cherry, and lactose)

Transient Artisan Ales - Bomb Pop Smolverine (Sour ale w/ blueberry, raspberry, cherry, key lime, vanilla ice cream, and lactose)

Since we last sampled a batch of non-alcoholic sparkling hop waters in November, we assumed the market would be flooded with new options from local and non-local breweries alike. That growth has proven to be a lot more gradual, but we hope the dam bursts sooner than later because this lineup of five hop-enhanced sparkling waters has us happier than we should be while sober. Also, Ryan throws Craig into the neighborhood Facebook group cesspool, we try to find a way to make drinking hop waters at work more socially acceptable, and we hope these adaptogens and neotropics restore Craig’s ability to taste and smell Mosaic hops. All this with none of the calories. 

Hop Waters Reviewed

Pollyanna Brewing Company - Hop Water

Noon Whistle Brewing - Lemon Lime Hop Water

Short’s Brewing Company - Thirst Mutilator: Lemon Lime

HOP WTR - Mango

Lagunitas Brewing - Hoppy Refresher: Berry Lemon

We can tell you that our love for these breweries will still be strong even after these beers of summer are gone, but heck, we’ll enjoy them now while they’re here. We drink through five beers marketed as easy Summer drinkers - three lagers, and two ales - to determine what’s stocking our coolers for the next month-plus. Also, Craig has joined the gummy revolution, Ryan has a lot to say about CostCo, and we get a nice little Patrick Swayze story in as well. Put your Wayfarers on, baby. 

Beers Reviewed

Goldfinger Brewing Company - Summer Beer

Half Acre Beer Company - Reef Knot

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Summerfest

Revolution Brewing - Sun Crusher

Solemn Oath Brewery - Total Midwest Love

These sweltering summer days have set off our symptoms that can only be diagnosed as a serious case of Pineapple Fever. For this show, we’re as surprised as anyone that we have a swinging good time cruising through a whole set of pineapple beers in defiance of our usual fruit show disappointments. Also, we’re finding ways to invite crows to the table; a chunky phase is never realized; Tim Allen answers for Craig now; and we request that our cakes stay right-side up. 

Beers Reviewed

Temperance Beer Co. - Greenwood Beach (Blonde ale w/ pineapple)

Pipeworks Brewing Co. - Pineapple Guppy (American Pale Ale w/ pineapple)

Energy City Brewing - Piña Sunset Sorbet IPA (NEIPA w/ pineapple & coconut)

Triptych Brewing - Fruit Aisle: Pineapple Whip (Tart ale w/ pineapple, vanilla, & lactose)

Young Blood Beer Co. - Pineapple Demogorgen In the Upside Down (Pastry sour w/ pineapple, marshmallow, graham cracker, and vanilla)

In the 10 years since Maplewood started producing beers in Chicago, the brewery and distillery has become one of the most recognizable, available, and consistent craft brands in the city. We sit down with the crew of Roger Cuzelis, Adam Smith, and Adam Cieslak to talk about how the company has evolved over the last decade with their multiple medal-winning beers and spirits leading the way. We also drink through a 4-pack of their “Heritage Series” beers for their 10th anniversary which resurrects some old favorites - albeit made with the technical skill and top-notch ingredients they’ve acquired through ten years of business. Furthermore, we bring our own 4-packs back to our respective bunkers to give them a thorough dissection by mostly just raving about how perfect they all are. Plus, Ryan can’t help but look awkward in photos, and Craig just wants the corn dogs to come back.

Maplewood Interview (0:00:00 - 01:01:30)

Beers Reviewed

The Charlatan (Pale Ale)

Azacca Morris IPA

Creepy Ginger (Belgian-Style Strong Golden w/ ginger)

Husky Pants (Hazy Double IPA)